It feels "weird" because the last 1.5 seasons (since the trade deadline in 2022) the team has felt very logically built. Now it is more of a WIP for multiple reasons:
1) Replacing Horford was never going to be easy. There just aren't a lot of guys with his skillset and the ones that are close are never available. This is why all lineups feel a little bit "off" when you place Horford on the bench and try to figure out the best starting five. It doesn't work because no other combination of players can make up for the loss of the things he brought to the table.
2) Porzingis was unexpectedly available and had time pressure due to his player option. They clearly decided they just needed to get him first and figure out the fit with the rest of our team later. Unfortunately, this may take more time than just one offseason.
3) The new CBA situation hurt them because Brad generally liked having long-term, controllable deals. All of a sudden, long terms deals for players that aren't stars became a lot harder to move.
4) Phoenix and LA scooped up most of the better minimum players out there that could have really helped us replace the depth we lost.
5) Having an new, inexperienced head coach without a long track record and also a newly revamped assistant coaching staff has left the fans with lots of uncertainty regarding their offensive and defensive philosophies next year.
